NBA, players’ association hold 3-hour bargaining session, will meet in smaller groups

NBA, union hold 3-hour bargaining meeting

NEW YORK — The NBA and its players’ association have completed another negotiating session and say they will continue meeting in smaller groups as they try to complete a new collective bargaining agreement.

The league and union met for three hours Wednesday and issued a joint statement, calling the talks “cordial and constructive.” It was the second meeting this summer and fifth since last August.

The current CBA expires on June 30, 2011, and the sides remain far apart on talks toward another one that would head off a work stoppage.

The sides added that “a number of issues were identified that will be addressed in smaller groups leading up to the next bargaining meeting.” They did not say when that would be.